Makan Winkle Chothe’s rise in 3 short years takes everyone by storm

Gaurs recent recruit – Makan Winkle Chothe, a young and pacy winger from Manipur, has been a standout performer in the previous I-League and the youth league seasons.
Makan Winkle Chothe has taken the Indian footballing fraternity by storm over the last three years. The winger, who never had a formal training background until selected by Minerva through a trial in 2017, has over the last few seasons impressed all and sundry with his brilliance on the wings.
Within the space of the last three seasons, the 20-year-old Manipuri has gone on to lift the Hero Elite Youth League, score in the I-League and play on the continental stage for his club. This, however, is just the beginning of the road for the youngster, reckons he himself. Chothe has set his sights even higher.
“I was surprised, you can say ecstatic. It didn’t take much to convince me either,” says the ever-gleeful Makan Winkle Chothe after penning a three-year contract with FC Goa. “I didn’t want to tell anyone. I didn’t even tell my parents that FC Goa wanted to sign me. They only got to know after all the paperwork was finished. I am thrilled.”
Chothe’s signing represents the Gaurs’ 3rd new capture of the season, following the arrivals of Redeem Tlang and Sanson Pereira. The move also magnifies the club’s methodology of finding young talents across the country and giving them a platform to shine on.
It was only a few years ago that the name of Makan Winkle Chothe was unknown to both fans as well as scouts alike. In fact, it was a social media post in 2017 that changed the life of the 20-year-old. “I had never been formally educated in training. In my village in Purum Chumbang in Manipur, I used to play the game after school and during holidays. The game came quite naturally to me,” remarks Chothe, looking back.
Having completed his Class 10 exams, the then teenager made a move to Siliguri in West Bengal, where he joined a club called Kanchenjunga FC. His stay there, though, was short lived. “It was a post on Facebook. Minerva Academy was having trials for their team and I convinced my uncle to get me to Punjab,” recalls Chothe. “I had real faith in my abilities, and I really wanted to give this a try.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
The coaches in Minerva knew that they had a talent on their hands and quickly snapped him up. In his very first season, Makan shined, scoring 35 goals in just 13 games for Minerva as they clinched the national crown in the tournament organised by Reliance Foundation Youth Sports.
One season later, he would again prove to be the talisman as Minerva became champions of the Hero Elite League. By then, Makan had already been drafted into their senior set-up with his debut coming at the fag end of the 2017/18 season when he came on as a last-minute substitute. He would have a more telling impact on the I-League a season later, featuring 11 times for the Minerva in 2018/19 season.
Speaking on his steep rise up the club ladder, the Cristiano Ronaldo fan stated, “I feel it’s a result of hard work and the belief that my coaches and peers have had in me. I started doing well in the youth tournaments, but I was never satisfied with them and wanted to make a mark at the senior level. “I was able to do that last season, and now with this move, I feel I have the opportunity to take the next step. I get a chance to play with the best in the country as well as against them now.”
“I want to give my best for FC Goa and make it to the national team as soon as possible.”
Also Read: In Mumbai Football, competition is good while in Bengaluru, the intensity is higher – Aniket Panchal
For Trial related updates: Latest trials updates in Mumbai Football
Hekmat Singh stars with a double hat-trick as Customs beat ESIC 7-0
Defying his age, Hekmat produced a clinical display of finishing in front of goal as he pumped in half a dozen himself in Customs 7-0 rout out of ESIC On…
We want to win this league unbeaten: Steven Dias
Playing their first season in MFA Elite League, Ambernath Utd – Atlanta FC coached by former India International Steven Dias has been on a rampaging run so far having beaten every opponent they have faced.
Coach Education / Football News / Reliance Developmental League
Bosses at the helms: A look at top Indian coaches on top jobs – PART 2
In this part, we have listed down the Indian coaches who are leading their teams in the Reliance Foundation Development League. In the Reliance Foundation Development League, most Indian coaches…
Arif Shaikh’s brace leads 10 Man Ambernath Utd – Atlanta FC to another comfortable win
13 in 13! Despite being down to 10 men, Ambernath United – Atlanta FC managed to continue their winning streak as they beat DK Pharma 3-0 Continuing their rich vein…
Football News / I-league / Kenkre Football Club
Kenkre FC: A Story of Inexperience, Determination, and Colossal fighting spirit
From a disappointing start to getting so close to pulling off a miraculous survival, Kenkre’s first-ever Hero I League season can be termed as the story of the season. It…
Western Railway holds Mumbai Customs to a goalless draw
Despite some assertive football from Mumbai Customs, Western Railway showed brave character to hold the defending champions to a goalless draw in an Elite Division tie of the MFA at…
MSP Academy is holding trials for the upcoming MFA Youth League
MFA Super Division club Mumbai Soccer Prodigies will be conducting trials for their MFA Youth League campaign on 22nd May 2022 in Bandra, Mumbai. Founded in 2006, the Mumbai Soccer…
Football News / I-league / Kenkre Football Club
Ranjeet Pandre selected for the All-Stars squad for the game against the Indian national team
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on 11 May 2022 announced the roster for the preparatory match between the national team and the All-Stars team to be played later this…
Gokulam Kerala vs Mohammedan SC: Who needs what to win Hero I-League title
Sreenidi Deccan FC’s stunning 3-1 victory over Gokulam Kerala on Tuesday threw a spanner in the defending champions’ works to reclaim their Hero I-League crown as Mohammedan SC kept their…
Football News / I-league / Indian Women's League / Women Football
Gokulam Kerala women take inspiration from men’s victory in Hero I-League
Gokulam Kerala FC created history in Indian Football on Saturday, May 14, when they defeated Mohammedan SC 2-1 to win back-to-back Hero I-League titles for the first time in the…
MSP Academy is holding trials for the upcoming MFA Youth League
MFA Super Division club Mumbai Soccer Prodigies will be conducting trials for their MFA Youth League campaign on 22nd May 2022 in Bandra, Mumbai. Founded in 2006, the Mumbai Soccer…
Mumbai Football / Recommended / Trials
Football School of India to conduct Youth Trials
Mumbai-based Football School of India is going to conduct youth trials for its boys and girls squads. The trials will be conducted for players in the age group of under-13…
Bengaluru FC Elite Youth Football Trials
Bengaluru Football Club is a professional club that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL) and are past champions of the I-League and ISL. The club has launched its Soccer…
D’Souza Football Academy to conduct Youth Trials
Mumbai-based D’Souza Football Academy is going to conduct football scholarship trials for its youth squads. The trials will be conducted for players in the age group of under-7 to under-15….
Oscar SSE to conduct trials for Youth I-League in U13, U15&U18 category in Mumbai
OSCAR SSE, an AIFF Accredited Academy invites all U13, U15 & U18 players from ALL SOCIO-ECONOMIC backgrounds for football trials to join our Elite teams to train round the year…
Elite Division / MDFA / Recommended / Trials
Air India to conduct senior team trials for MFA Elite League on Monday
Mumbai-based Air India FC is set to conduct trials for their Senior Team to play the MFA Elite (Corporate) Division. One of the top-tier clubs from Mumbai – Air India…
MDFA / Mumbai Football / Recommended / Trials
Air India to hold youth team trials on Monday
Mumbai-based Air India FC is set to conduct trials for their Youth Team for the MFA Super (Corporate) Division. One of the top-tier clubs from Mumbai – Air India will…
MDFA / Recommended / Trials
Bhaichung Bhutia’s Residential Academy set to conduct trials in Mumbai
16th March, 2022: Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS) will conduct Residential Academy trials in Maharashtra for the academic year 2022-23. In the next few months, the trials will be organized…
Bombay Muslims Sports Club to conduct trials for its Elite Division Team
Mumbai-based Bombay Muslims Sports Club will conduct trials for its Elite Men’s team for the upcoming MFA Elite League. Bombay Muslims have been a regular outfit in Mumbai Football top…
Elite Division / MDFA / Trials
Mumbai Elite Division club Salsette FC to hold trials
Thane-based Salsette FC will be conducting football Trials this Saturday for their upcoming MFA Elite Division 2021-22 Campaign. Salsette FC had been playing in Super Division back in the 2016-17…